South Brunswick Official Named To Replace Crabiel

MIDDLESEX COUNTY – County Democrats have chosen South Brunswick Deputy Mayor Carol Barrett to replace the late David B. Crabiel on the county Board of Chosen Freeholders.

A special convention was held Sunday at East Brunswick Vo-Tech High School to choose Crabiel’s successor. Barrett won with 353 votes, beating former Edison Councilman Charles Tomaro and Amy G. Papi of East Brunswick, who received 186 and 72 votes, respectively.

“I promise you that I will do my best to be one of the best freeholders there ever was — except maybe for Dave Crabiel, I can’t top that,” said Barrett after the votes were counted. “It was always my desire to be a freeholder. I was right there (at the County Administration Building), I saw how it worked, and I wanted to be a part of it.

Barrett spent 41 years a county employee, starting as a clerk in 1965 and ending her career as coordinator of data processing. She retired three years ago.

“The process worked, the committeemen and committeewomen had a chance to vote for their favorite candidate,” said Middlesex County Democratic Organization Chairman, Joseph C. Spicuzzo. “We had three outstanding candidates for freeholder, and the best woman out of the vote tally won.”

Barrett was sworn in at the freeholders’ reorganization meeting Monday at Middlesex County College. Voters will choose someone to serve the final two years of Crabiel’s term in a special election in Novemeber.